Moscow says it intercepted US bombers over Baltic Sea | Abroad

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, these were two US Air Force B-1B strategic bombers. Moscow sent two Su-27 and Su-35 fighter jets into the air to intercept the American aircraft. Subsequently, the Russian planes “returned safely to their base”. The intervention was done “in strict accordance with international rules on the use of airspace,” the ministry said.

Moscow has repeatedly claimed in recent weeks that it has intercepted several Western aircraft. Last Monday, Russia said it intercepted two NATO aircraft, a French and a German military aircraft, flying over the Baltic Sea and trying to violate “the Russian border”.

In recent months, Moscow itself has regularly been accused of pushing the limits of the airspace of European countries. Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year, there were more frequent incidents between Russian and NATO aircraft.

One of the most notable incidents happened over the Black Sea early this month, when a Polish Border Guard plane was confronted with “life-threatening actions” by a Russian fighter jet. According to the Poles, the Russian jet made “aggressive and dangerous maneuvers” without first making radio contact. For example, the Russian aircraft is said to have flown only 5 meters in front of the Polish aircraft at one point. The pilot of the Polish aircraft would have temporarily lost control of his aircraft as a result.

In March, a US drone and a Russian plane collided over the Black Sea. The drone crashed. The countries blame each other for this.

According to the US military, there is “a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting with US and allied aircraft over international airspace”. These are “dangerous and can lead to miscalculation and unintentional escalation”.

LOOK ALSO. For example, Russian jets previously downed a US drone over the Black Sea